Mason Rudolph ranked as nation’s No. 3 QB by Fox Sports analyst

Mason Rudolph is better than Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, and he’s even better than the reigning Heisman winner, according to one prominent analyst.

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt ranked the Oklahoma State passer third on his list of top five quarterbacks in the country ahead of the 2017 season. Rudolph ranked ahead of Mayfield and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, who didn’t make the list. The only passers Klatt put ahead of Rudolph were USC’s Sam Darnold and Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett.

Rudolph threw for 4,091 yards last season with 28 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He also completed 63.4 percent of his passes. He and receiver James Washington are both considered contenders for the Heisman this season, as well as the Maxwell Award.

The senior quarterback leads the No. 11-ranked team in the nation heading into the season, according to the preseason USA Today coaches poll. The Cowboys open the season at home against Tulsa on Thursday, Aug. 31.